Find Freedom From Your Homeschooling Fears

Fear often holds us back in our homeschooling journey and robs us of the joy God has in store for us as we teach our children and create deeper relationships with them. I have yet to meet a homeschooler who hasn’t struggled with some of these fears — myself included. I find that on a daily basis, I need to be on alert for thoughts and input that spark anxiety and take my attention away from the truth that God equips those He has called to fulfill His purpose — homeschooling included.

Homeschooling fear is often cleverly disguised as:

Insecurity

Concern & Worry

What if?

Common homeschooling fears that attack our faith:

I’m not qualified or up to the task of homeschooling, what if I can’t teach them everything?

Even a NextGen Homeschooler like myself struggles with these fears. I had personally been homeschooled for two years and enjoyed it, so I thought I would feel more equipped and “ready” to homeschool than parents who’d never experienced homeschooling. But I was wrong. When faced with the decision of what to do when our eldest daughter reached school age, I began to battle with these same homeschooling fears and concerns — the “big fat lies” that the enemy uses to hold us back from walking in faith down a road God was calling me to follow.

Today, I’m happy to share with you a new resource designed to help YOU overcome homeschooling fears and challenges and discover joy (and sanity!) in your homeschooling journey: the online video course called “bloom.” With “bloom,” Alicia Michelle of Vibrant Homeschooling has created a practical — yet very personal — online course designed to help ALL homeschooling mamas bloom where you are planted!

Here’s a sneak peek at what “bloom” is all about:

Whether you’re a new homeschooler feeling overwhelmed and full of self-doubt, or a veteran homeschooler being challenged in ways that chip away at your confidence, you’re not alone! Throughout the “bloom” course, Alicia comes alongside you with a step-by-step approach to overcoming common homeschooling challenges with practical, achievable solutions. The online course, which you can complete at your own pace, includes At-Home Discovery Packets that accompany each lesson and give you tools to personalize and apply what you’ve learned. Plus the interactive Facebook group led by Alicia provides you with a built-in support community to encourage and inspire you during the growing process!

This past month I completed the “bloom” online course with a team of top homeschool mama bloggers, and what a blessing it has been! Although I am now somewhat of a veteran homeschooler (we just finished our fifth year), I learned a lot from Alicia — especially in areas that I still struggle with, such as comparison and perfectionism. I was really encouraged by her personal experience and inspired by her strategies to help all homeschool mamas “bloom” where we are planted! I would have loved to have access to a resource like “bloom” when I was struggling to overcome my fears early on in my own homeschooling journey.

It’s my prayer that you will allow yourself to fully trust your Heavenly Father to carry you, strengthen you, equip you, lead you, and most important, LOVE YOU throughout the ups and downs of your homeschooling journey!

Do you struggle with any of these fear-based lies that weaken your confidence about homeschooling? Where do you turn for support when you’re feeling anxious and worried as a homeschooling mom? What breakthroughs of faith have you experienced on your journey?

About Renée Gotcher

Renée Gotcher is a wife, writer, consultant & home-educating mother of three daughters. She has been married for 21 years to her best friend Kenny, whom she met while attending Oral Roberts University in the early 90s. Renée was homeschooled during her last two years of high school and started homeschooling in 2010. A former journalist, she is currently editor of NextGen Homeschool and blogs on personal topics at A New Chapter. Her family lives in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Comments

Hello!
I have a son turning 4. My current struggles are actually quite a few. I am working full time while husband night schools. It’s my heart’s desire to be a homeschooling stay-at-home mom. I will work a night job if I have to. We struggle financially and are also expecting a 2nd baby. My plan is to not come back after birth, but I feel like husband is increasing his doubt in the financial sense of it all. And every time somebody asks me “oh, is he starting preschool this year?” I cringe inside before answering no. And when they persist, and I tell them we are going to homeschool, it’s as if 10 heads have popped out of my ear. Sometimes they comment, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes their eyes pop out of their heads, sometimes they just say oh and smile. I almost feel like I need to defend my decision…like post articles about why homeschooling is actually wonderful and does not produce weird anti-social hermits like the whole world believes. I have recently begun praying that if my heart’s desire to do this is not God’s desire for me, that He would change my heart. I really am struggling with finding peace right now in my decision.
Thanks for “listening”.
Dawn

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